Sunisa Lee ended her collegiate gymnastics career at Auburn because of a kidney issue.
This week, the Tokyo 2020 all-around gold medalist is revealing that her kidney issue caused her to gain 45 pounds and it reached the point where her eyes were swollen and she couldn’t fit into her clothes.
“I couldn’t fit into any of my clothes,’’ Lee said. “My eyes were swollen shut. It was just so scary.’’
That kidney issue forced her retirement from college gymnastics at Auburn University.
“I haven’t had a really bad day in a while,’’ Lee said. “But in the beginning, it was like I was waking up swollen. My fingers were so swollen they wouldn’t fit into my grips and I couldn’t hold on to the bar…
“My whole body was swollen because I was retaining water, so I couldn’t do a flip. … So it was really different and I had to learn how to work through it.’’
Lee had to opt out of the U.S. Women’s World Championships Selection Event in Katy, Texas back in September to further take care of herself. USA Gymnastics had previously confirmed that Lee was invited to the selection event, but that the three-time Olympic medallist had opted out.
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The Minneapolis native had worries that her disease would derail her Olympic comeback plans and future in her sport but she is expected to compete at the upcoming Olympic trials.
Her last competition was in August as the reigning Olympic all-around gold medalist finished in last place at the U.S. Championships. There was no sadness on this day as everybody knew what she had been dealing with in her life.
The fact she competed at the U.S. Championships mattered so much more than the tie for 27th place.
Lee knows what it’s like to compete at a high level with personal things going on as she captured gold at the 2020 Tokyo Games while far from full strength from a broken foot, and still heartbroken from losing two family members to COVID-19.
The country is certainly behind her.
